Webinar ULI Philadelphia: A Conversation with Richard Rothstein Date: July 23, 2020 00:00:00 --> 00:00:02: Good morning everyone. I'm Alan Razak. 00:00:02 --> 00:00:06: I am chair of Philadelphia District Council and principle at 00:00:06 --> 00:00:07: AthenianRazak, 00:00:07 --> 00:00:10: in the city of Philadelphia. I want to welcome everyone 00:00:10 --> 00:00:13: to today's webinar with Richard Rothstein, 00:00:13 --> 00:00:15: author of Color of Law. 00:00:15 --> 00:00:18: This is one of a series of programs and conversations 00:00:18 --> 00:00:22: we've begun with our members in partnership with Duely District 00:00:22 --> 00:00:23: councils in New York, 00:00:23 --> 00:00:27: Boston and Washington DC about understanding racism in our organization 00:00:27 --> 00:00:28: in our industry. 00:00:28 --> 00:00:32: That's the first step to bring about critically important change. 00:00:32 --> 00:00:36: In a statement ULI issued, ULI Philadelphia issued last month. 00:00:36 --> 00:00:40: We committed to an array of anti racist access for 00:00:40 --> 00:00:42: organization in our industry. 00:00:42 --> 00:00:45: We're here today for the first one of those, 00:00:45 --> 00:00:49: because we're committed to providing a forum for difficult and 00:00:49 --> 00:00:54: uncomfortable conversations about our industry's role in perpetuating the systemic 00:00:54 --> 00:00:57: racism that are communities continue to endure. 00:00:57 --> 00:01:00: When I say uncomfortable, I mean it. 00:01:00 --> 00:01:02: You will like it's a shout out and not a 00:01:02 --> 00:01:03: good one. 00:01:03 --> 00:01:07: In Mr Rothstein's book, because our organization was one of 00:01:07 --> 00:01:12: many enablers that supported and benefited from the segregationist policies 00:01:12 --> 00:01:16: that the color of law describes is sometimes demoralizing detail. 00:01:16 --> 00:01:17: As difficult as this is to hear, 1 00:01:17 --> 00:01:19: it's important that we hear it. 00:01:19 --> 00:01:21: It's clear to meet it before we can roll up 00:01:21 --> 00:01:24: our sleeves and do the hard work of undoing what's 00:01:24 --> 00:01:25: been done. 00:01:25 --> 00:01:28: We have to understand what it is and where it 00:01:29 --> 00:01:29: came from. 00:01:29 --> 00:01:31: This is one way in which you will. 00:01:31 --> 00:01:35: can contribute positively to solving the problem we share in 00:01:35 --> 00:01:39: common as a Premier research and education organizational and use 00:01:39 --> 00:01:39: industry. 00:01:39 --> 00:01:42: ULI can help just by doing what it does. 00:01:42 --> 00:01:45: So we'll convene us to learn and discuss so we 00:01:45 --> 00:01:46: can make a difference. 00:01:46 --> 00:01:49: And I want to emphasize that you will like is 00:01:49 --> 00:01:51: committed to making a difference. 00:01:51 --> 00:01:54: You can now read about everything going on at 00:01:54 --> 00:01:57: ULI with regards to DEI and there's a lot by 00:01:57 --> 00:01:59: going to americas.uli.org/DEI. 00:01:59 --> 00:02:00: This was just posted yesterday. 00:02:00 --> 00:02:03: And it will be updated constantly. 00:02:03 --> 00:02:07: The links in your chat and will also include it 00:02:07 --> 00:02:09: in our post event survey. 00:02:09 --> 00:02:12: I hope everyone's had a chance to read the color 00:02:12 --> 00:02:12: of law. 00:02:12 --> 00:02:15: As a text, it refutes to notion I was taught 00:02:15 --> 00:02:19: as a young architecture and planning student that the housing 00:02:19 --> 00:02:22: segregation we live with today is a result of millions 00:02:22 --> 00:02:26: of individual choices, or of redlining by evil bankers. 00:02:26 --> 00:02:28: The truth is actually more disturbing. 00:02:28 --> 00:02:32: Housing segregation in the United States is a result of 00:02:32 --> 00:02:37: a century of intentional and explicitly racist government policy enforced 00:02:37 --> 00:02:40: with the willing participation of our industry. 00:02:40 --> 00:02:42: I look forward to hearing from Mr. 00:02:42 --> 00:02:45: Rothstein, engaging in conversation and working with all of you 00:02:45 --> 00:02:47: attending today's webinars. 00:02:47 --> 00:02:50: Consider how we use these lessons to affect change in 00:02:50 --> 00:02:52: our organization or industry in our communities. 00:02:52 --> 00:02:55: And now I'd like to turn things over to Laura 00:02:55 --> 00:02:55: Slutzky, 2 00:02:55 --> 00:03:01: executive Director of Philadelphia to walk us through today's program. 00:03:01 --> 00:03:04: Wonderful thank you. Good morning everyone. 00:03:04 --> 00:03:06: I wish I could see your face is but I 00:03:06 --> 00:03:08: want to thank you so much for being here today 00:03:08 --> 00:03:12: and we're thrilled to have participants from around the country 00:03:12 --> 00:03:14: join this really important conversation. 00:03:14 --> 00:03:18: Thank you Alan for your leadership on this really critical 00:03:18 --> 00:03:21: topic and thank you to the leadership of ULI District 00:03:21 --> 00:03:22: Councils in New York City, 00:03:22 --> 00:03:25: Boston and Washington DC for partnering with us on the 00:03:25 --> 00:03:27: delivery of today's program, 00:03:27 --> 00:03:30: which as Alan mentioned, is part of a joint series 00:03:30 --> 00:03:32: on this topic and to our own local members in 00:03:32 --> 00:03:35: Philadelphia for your dedication to making progress. 00:03:35 --> 00:03:37: Industry. 00:03:37 --> 00:03:40: I want to invite everyone if you are not already 00:03:40 --> 00:03:42: part of our work at ULI to please join us. 00:03:42 --> 00:03:44: Please give us feedback and ideas. 00:03:44 --> 00:03:47: So here on your screen is what the program today 00:03:47 --> 00:03:49: will look like in just a minute I will pass 00:03:49 --> 00:03:52: things over to Eleanor Sharp and then we will hear 00:03:52 --> 00:03:56: from our keynote presenter Richard Rothstein for about 45 minutes 00:03:56 --> 00:03:58: and we will conclude with a moderated Q&A. 00:03:58 --> 00:04:00: So I want to direct everyone to the Q and 00:04:00 --> 00:04:03: a button at the bottom of your screen. 00:04:03 --> 00:04:06: You should feel free to submit your questions throughout the 00:04:06 --> 00:04:07: presentation. 00:04:07 --> 00:04:09: You don't have to wait until the end. 00:04:09 --> 00:04:12: And then finally, at the end we will share a 00:04:12 --> 00:04:15: survey I want to mention that we would love feedback 00:04:15 --> 00:04:17: both on today's program and on how we, 00:04:17 --> 00:04:20: as an organization and industry can do better, 00:04:20 --> 00:04:24: which I hope this talk inspires you all to think 00:04:24 --> 00:04:25: about with us. 00:04:25 --> 00:04:28: So now I want to map before we get started, 00:04:28 --> 00:04:32: take a moment to recognize our annual UI Philadelphia sponsors 00:04:32 --> 00:04:33: without their support. 00:04:33 --> 00:04:36: Our work would not be possible and this is the 00:04:37 --> 00:04:40: first group of our newly re committed fiscal year 21 3 00:04:40 --> 00:04:42: sponsors in Philadelphia. 00:04:42 --> 00:04:44: Thank you so much. 00:04:44 --> 00:04:46: So now I would like to turn it over to 00:04:46 --> 00:04:49: Eleanor to introduce today's guest. 00:04:49 --> 00:04:52: Eleanor Sharp is deputy director of the Division of Planning 00:04:52 --> 00:04:56: and Zoning for the city's Department of Planning and Development 00:04:56 --> 00:05:00: and Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. 00:05:00 --> 00:05:04: She also serves on the ULI Philadelphia Advisory Board and 00:05:04 --> 00:05:06: chairs our Philadelphia Urban Plan program. 00:05:06 --> 00:05:10: Thank you so much and welcome Eleanor.